DEC 2015/JAN 2016 Editor: Jo Wood

ISSUE 41

Your local charity supporting blind & partially sighted people

Season’s Greetings to All

As we approach the festive season, we wish all our members, volunteers, trustees and supporters a happy, healthy time.

We invite you to join in Christmas celebrations with us: at a Community Christmas Concert by Wessex Chorus in the Rooper Hall on Tuesday 1st December; at the annual Staff versus Members Cards Tournament on 16th December and our Christmas Lunch on Monday 21st December. (We remind you that bookings and payment for this lunch need to be received in the office by Friday 11th.)

We also encourage you to sell as many of our Christmas Raffle tickets as possible to family and friends - this is a great way for us to raise funds and you can be in with the chance of winning one of several exciting prizes, including a TV, Christmas Hamper, vouchers and other goodies! (Please ask in the office for more books of tickets.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Following our articles about Bournemouth Blind Society and AFC Bournemouth in

the last issue, we are delighted to report to you that AFCB Commercial Director Rob Mitchell and PA Alice Jeans came to visit Chief Exec Philip a few weeks ago. We have agreed to work in partnership next year to offer some exciting opportunities for our many football supporting members. We will give you further details as they become available. We are also pleased to say that BBC Radio Solent commentators Kris Temple and ex-player John Williams mentioned our articles and the Society live on-air during the away game at Manchester City in October.

Introducing our brand new fundraising initiative … enjoy munching yummy sweets and then help to save money for our charity! We are inviting people to take advantage of our FREE Smarties offer - simply ask in the office for a tube for yourself, a friend or someone in your family; enjoy eating them and then fill the empty tube with 20p or £1 coins and return to us whenever you can! Thank you for your help! Enjoy eating and then saving for a worthwhile cause!

AFC Bournemouth Smarties Tubes

Chiropody

Following a review, we have decided to withdraw the Chiropody service. Thank you to Margareth for helping us over the past few years. Members who have used the service will be advised of alternative arrangements.

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If you receive an unsuitable or unwanted Christmas present, we would be delighted if

you would donate it to the Society to use as a Raffle prize at one of our fundraising events next year. Thank you so much for your kindness!

Members’ Corner Christmas Gifts

Volunteers

We take this opportunity to thank our group of almost 50 volunteers for all the wonderful work they do. Volunteers work in a variety of roles, both at the Centre and out in the community visiting people in their own homes. To thank them for generously donating their time, which makes such a difference in the lives of local blind and visually

impaired people, we are holding a celebration social evening in early December.

If you know anyone who would like to join our ‘volunteer family’, please ask them to call us on 01202 546644.

Member Ami-Jade Howe shares one of her poems with us:

Dog’s Bedtime Prayer Now I lay me down to sleep, The king-size bed is soft and deep, I sleep right in the centre groove, My human beings can hardly move, I’ve trapped their legs, They’re tucked in tight, And here is where I pass the night. No one disturbs me or dares intrude, Til morning comes and I want food. I sneak up slowly to begin, And nibble on my human’s chin, For morning’s here, It’s time to play, I always seem to get my way. So thank you Lord for giving me, This human person that I see. The one who hugs me and holds me tight, And shares their bed with me at night.

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In the Community

Emotional Support Counsellor Marie attended Action for Blind People’s ‘Finding Your Feet’ course in Weymouth at the end of September. Philip gave a talk to the Trefoil Guild, St Bernadette’s Church on 10th November. He will be talking to the members of Christchurch Baptist Church on 2nd February 2016. If you know any group who would like a presentation about visual impairment and our work, please contact Philip on 01202 546644 or e-mail: philip.tarrant@bournemouthblindsociety.uk

Hearing Club

Archery Success

Chrissy Woodham, age 39 has attended our Tuesday evening Archery sessions, (run in conjunction with Sagittarii Club), since early 2013. She was thrilled to recently be presented with the ‘Archer of the Year’ and ‘20 yards Blue’ awards by Club Chairman Dave Reynolds. Chrissy explains, ‘I really enjoy archery and have improved my skills. It’s also nice as a social thing, I’ve made friends with other archers. I’ve had poor eyesight since birth and it’s deteriorating but I just try to aim for the middle! I see the colours but not when the arrows go into the target, I rely heavily on the sound then!’ To join our archery sessions, please call 01202 546644. Thanks to the Sagittarii Club for their ongoing support.

Our Hearing Club will meet on both Wednesday 9th December and 13th January 2016 (10.30-12.00) Optional activities can be arranged.

Car Park

We thank local parent Chris Moore for generously donating his time to clean our driveway/car park in October. Chris owns ‘Clean Start’ Pressure Washing and Carpet Cleaners. He can be contacted on 07480 117197.

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any venue owners who would be willing to ‘adopt’ an ‘Ellie’ for us, we would be really grateful to hear from you! The Bournemouth Scrabble Club donated £525 from their October tournament held in our Rooper Hall. We thank The Andrew Cannon Band for providing a lovely afternoon of entertainment a few weeks ago. The audience enjoyed singing along to a range of popular tunes and £445 was raised. We received donations in memory of our members James Longridge and Anne Chapman. We also thank members Gordon Spong and Adrian Williamson for their generous individual donations. We thank Bournemouth North Rotary Club and Bournemouth Lions for their support during the year.

2016 Quiz Night Dates Saturday 5th March Saturday 18th June

Saturday 24th September Saturday 26th November

Tickets are £9. Please phone Caroline on 01202 546644 or e-mail: caroline.simmons@ bournemouthblindsociety.uk if you wish to join us and book in your team!

Quiz Nights

Fundraising

We would like to thank people for their continued generosity in raising and donating funds: Our October Bingo Night raised £569. Thank you to everyone who attended. In2Ballroom donated £81 from their Autumn Dance Raffle. Assistive Technology volunteer Geoff O’Neill donated £100 to the Society. We would like to give a big thank you to all the local retail outlets who hold our Pink Elephant collection tins for us. These raise in the region of £750 a year, so if you know of

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Sight & Hearing Resource Centre

Opening Hours: Monday - Friday

10am - 1pm Everyone is welcome to visit our Resource Centre - no appointment is necessary. Our friendly staff and volunteers can offer full demonstrations of specialist equipment for sight and hearing impaired people which they may then order or purchase.

Our A3 2016 Bournemouth Blind Society large print calendars are on sale for £4.

Bournemouth Blind Society A4 and A5 notebooks are also available, together with a range of diaries that can be ordered for you.

Need any ‘stocking filler’ ideas for visually impaired people? How about large print playing cards, Sudoku, Crossword or Word Search books? All of these are available in our Resource Centre.

Tuesday Drop in Cafe

All members are welcome to attend our Tuesday café, where cooked breakfasts are served between 10.30 and 12.30. Roast lunches can be booked for the last Tuesday of each month. Either make your own way here or phone the day before to request Minibus transport.

Pete Russell

A number of you will know Pete, who has entertained members at the Centre with his music sessions for many years. Pete is both an accomplished accordionist and keyboard player who, because of his blindness, plays all tunes from memory. Unfortunately Pete is currently in the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital. Our thoughts are with him and his wife Barbara at this time.

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Tuesday 1st December 2015 Doors open 7pm for 7.30pm start

Tel 01202 546644 to purchase tickets

Activities Bookings

Please don’t forget to check your Activities Calendar to find out what’s going on during December and January.

If you are interested in attending any events, please book early as transport places may be limited.

You can book Activities, Lunch and Transport by phoning the office on 01202 546644.

Community Christmas Concert

by Wessex Chorus

The Rooper Hall 5 Victoria Park Road

Bournemouth BH9 2RB

£5 Raffle & Refreshments

available during Interval

Raising funds for Bournemouth Blind Society

(your local charity supporting blind and partially sighted people)

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Bournemouth Blind Society

5 Victoria Park Road, Bournemouth BH9 2RB

Tel 01202 546644 (General Enquiries) Tel 01202 522184 (Community Services)

Supporting blind and partially sighted people to remain independent and part of the community

www.bournemouthblindsociety.uk

Company No: 5792657 Charity No: 1114570

Bingo Night

Saturday 23rd

January 2016

The Rooper Hall

5 Victoria Park Road

7.30pm

£10 (includes Supper)

Tel: 01202 546644

to purchase tickets

Cash Bar & Raffle

TWO FUN NIGHTS OUT in the NEW YEAR:

‘For the Love of Music’

by BBLOC Bitesize

Saturday 13th

February 2016

The Rooper Hall 5 Victoria Park Road

7.30pm

£10 (includes Supper)

Tel: 01202 546644 to purchase tickets

Cash Bar & Raffle